Frank Bonada – Soccer Ball World https://soccerballworld.com Soccer news, history and stats Mon, 08 Jul 2024 19:07:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://soccerballworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/cropped-soccer-bal-fav-icon-32x32.jpg Frank Bonada – Soccer Ball World https://soccerballworld.com 32 32 World Cup 2022 – Can Germany Rebound After A Disappointing 2020 Euro Campaign? https://soccerballworld.com/world-cup-2022-can-germany-rebound/ Mon, 25 Jul 2022 13:55:00 +0000 https://soccerballworld.com/?p=2483
Timo Werner

As one of the traditional World Cup powerhouses, Germany will be hoping to restamp their authority over the tournament in 2022.

Whilst their team’s starting XI may be entering the twilight of their careers, there is a surplus of young talent just waiting for an opening to make their own mark on an international stage.

Germany find themselves in a competitive starting group, with Spain, Japan, and Costa Rica all vying for the top two places. However, the Germans have shown time and time again that they cannot be overlooked, and it may well be that 2022 is no different.

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Germany World Cup 2022 XI

Manuel Neuer will of course take the No.1 goalkeeping position. The Bayern Munich keeper is an all-time great, and still competing at an extremely high level. However, Kevin Trapp of Eintracht Frankfurt is also a solid backup for the Germans.

The German defense is one of their most solid areas. They can take their pick from Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen), Niklas Sule (Borussia Dortmund), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Thilo Kehrer (PSG) and Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig).

In midfield, Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich will be the lynchpin of their control over the field. He will likely be paired with fellow Bayern player Leon Goretzka, as well as Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan. Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund) and Kai Havertz (Chelsea) offer further versatility in the center of the pitch.

Chelsea’s Timo Werner will be competing with Bayern standout Thomas Muller for the place as Germany’s lead striker. Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich) and Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich) appear the logical picks for starting wingers.

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3 New Transfers Who May Have The Biggest Impact On The Premier League 2022/2023 Season https://soccerballworld.com/3-transfers-biggest-impact-on-premier-league/ Sat, 23 Jul 2022 15:27:50 +0000 https://soccerballworld.com/?p=2487 The 2022/2023 Premier League season is rapidly approaching, and many of the league’s big clubs have forked out to bring some big names over to their respective sides.

Join us below as we check out three big-name signings that have the potential to cause the biggest impact this season.

Darwin Nunez

Darwin Nunez

Liverpool’s big-name signing of the summer could well be a huge gamble. The Reds signed Darwin Nunez from Benfica for a price of £64m (plus £21m add-ons).

Liverpool were quick to lock down Nunez, who is considered one of the top prospects in the sport after a stand-out season with Benfica. The 23-year-old was last season’s top scorer in the Portuguese league, and also had a stellar Champion League campaign. Many were skeptical of placing such a big price tag on a player with only one season of playing truly elite football. However, Nunez did recently pick up four goals in only one half, during a friendly match against German powerhouse team RB Leipzig.

Erling Haaland

Whilst Darwin Nunez is a big risk for Liverpool, Manchester City know exactly what they are paying for when they signed Erling Haaland. Last years Premier League winners forked out £51m to Borussia Dortmund in order to sign the lethal center forward.

Despite only being 22 years of age, Haaland has already repressed his country on the international stage and has broken numerous club records. The only risk with Haaland is that he has been prone to injury in the past, but should he manage to stay fit, Haaland will no doubt be one of the top goal scorers of the Premier League 2022/2023 season.

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Lisandro Martinez

Those who do not keep up with Dutch football may not be as familiar with Manchester United’s recent signing Lisandro Martinez as they could be, but this will no doubt soon change. United acquired the skilled defender from Ajax for a free of £48.5m (plus £8.5m add-ons).

Having been previously handed the moniker of ‘The Butcher of Amsterdam,’ Martinez will be looking to fill the Harry Magurie shaped hole in the United backline. This is easier said than done, especially when considering that Martinez will become the smallest center-back in the Premier League. However, the Argentinian is as scrappy as they come, and has the potential to be one of the standout signings of the year.

Who do you think will have the biggest impact on the 2022/2023 Premier League Season?
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World Cup 2022 – Will Wales Dare To Reach For Greatness? https://soccerballworld.com/world-cup-2022-wales-dare-to-reach-greatness/ Wed, 06 Jul 2022 11:00:17 +0000 https://soccerballworld.com/?p=2466 With the 2022 World Cup rapidly approaching, fans of each nation competing are desperately praying that their team will be victorious.

Brazil, France, Argentina, and England are the teams that take the headlines, but we have seen time and time again small teams who defy all expectations, leaving their mark on the iconic competition.

One such team may well be Wales at the 2022 World Cup. The Dragons will field a plucky team, made up of both veterans and rising prospects. With both England and USA in their starting group, the Welsh will be looking to make an instant statement of intent.

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Wales World Cup 2022 XI

Wales

The starting goalkeeping role for Wales’ 2022 World Cup campaign will be contested by three solid players. Wayne Hennessey (Burnley), Danny Ward (Leicester City) and Adam Davies (Sheffield United) will all no doubt be hopeful of claiming the No.1 spot.

In defense, Wales are able to field several solid players with premier league experience. Ben Davies (Tottenham), Joe Rodon (Tottenham), Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United), Connor Roberts (Burnley), and Neco Williams (Liverpool) have all played against some of the best to ever do it. Chris Mepham (Bournemouth) and Chris Gunter (Unattached) are also solid options to fall back on.

Wales’ midfield for the 2022 World Cup will consist of a mixture of both veterans and prospects. Joe Allen (Stoke City) and Aaron Ramsey (Juventus) both bring bags of high-level experience, whilst Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea) and Rabbi Matondo (Schalke 04) will have the chance to seize the limelight.

When on top form, Wales’ attack can be potent enough to break even the best defensive lines out there. However, often they have been offensively impotent, appearing to lack the synergy needed to compete with the very best. Gareth Bale (LAFC) will of course be the lynchpin of the attack, paired with dangerous winger Daniel James (Leeds United) and hard-headed striker Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth). Mark Harris (Cardiff City), Nathan Broadhead (Everton), and Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest) all also offer support in the attacking line.

How well do you think Wales will fare this World Cup?


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World Cup 2022 – Could Messi Lead Argentina To Glory One Last Time? https://soccerballworld.com/world-cup-2022-lionel-messi-argentina/ Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:12:04 +0000 https://soccerballworld.com/?p=2386 Lionel Messi

At the 2022 World Cup, Lionel Messi will lead Argentina out to what will surely be his last time competing in the penultimate international footballing competition.

Argentina possesses a solid team with great attacking potential. However, they do somewhat lack depth in their defensive line, which will no doubt make them one of the most exciting teams to follow in the 2022 World Cup.

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Argentina’s World Cup XI

Argentina’s goalkeeping options consist of Franco Armani (River Plate), Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal), and Juan Musso (Atalanta). Whilst these may not be the biggest names, Ruili has shown his ability to compete with the best La Liga has to offer.

In defence, Lionel Scaloni can call upon Nahuel Molina (Udinese), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Lisandro Martinez (Ajax), and Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax). This is another area where Argentina are somewhat lacking, especially in name value. But the likes of Otamendi and Tagliafico are veteran players who can bring some much-needed stability to the back line.

Argentina’s midfield is where the squad really begins to shine. Leandro Paredes (PSG), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Nicolas Paz (Real Madrid), Matias Soule (Juventus)
and Angel Di Maria (PSG) are all excellent options, equipped with stacks of creativity that will give many opposing teams trouble.

Lionel Messi (PSG) is of course the name that stands out from the attacking lineup. However, Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), and Paulo Dybala (Juventus) are all also dangerous attacking threats that will pair excellently with the veteran maestro.

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World Cup 2022 – Could It Be Time For A Spanish Resurgence? https://soccerballworld.com/world-cup-2022-time-for-a-spanish-resurgence/ Mon, 02 May 2022 16:24:23 +0000 https://soccerballworld.com/?p=2334 After winning the 2010 World Cup, Spain looked near unstoppable. However, they have failed to reach such heights since, with their 2018 World Cup campaign ending in an embarrassing loss to Russia.

However, the Spanish are looking to mount a resurgence in 2022. They now have a team full of young prospects and grizzled veterans, capable of competing at the very highest level of the sport.

Spain’s 2022 World Cup XI

For the sake of this article, we will presume that Spain will play a 4-3-3 formation, although it is entirely possible that manager Luis Enrique will mix it up.

Goalkeeper

Even with Manchester United’s David de Gea struggling for form as of late, he will still surely take the #1 position. Unai Simon will give him good competition, but de Gea on his day is world class.

Defenders

We expect Spanish veterans Jordi Alba and Cesar Azpilicueta to take on the starting full-back roles, with Jose Gaya and Dani Carvajal in reserve.

Pau Torres, Aymeric Laporte, and Inigo Martinez will all be competing for the center-back roles.

Midfielders

Starting in the CDM role will surely be Sergio Busquets, who has been plying his trade at the very top of the sport for the past decade. Man City’s Rodri will be looking to shift the wily veteran off his starting perch though.

One of the two CM roles will go to Atletico’s Koke, with the remaining position to be contested by Pablo Fornals, Dani Olmo, and Gavi.

Attackers

With both Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati likely to miss the World Cup due to injury, Pablo Sarabia of Sporting CP and Rodrigo Moreno of Leeds could be the starting wingers. Brahim Diaz and Raul de Tomas could also feature. Juventus’ Alvaro Morata is the clear starter for the man at the top.

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Spain put FIVE past Iceland! | Spain 5-0 Iceland | International Highlights nonadult
World Cup 2022 – Could France Pull Off Consecutive Victories? https://soccerballworld.com/world-cup-2022-could-france-win-again/ Thu, 28 Apr 2022 13:23:51 +0000 https://soccerballworld.com/?p=2325 The 2022 World Cup is rapidly approaching and speculation is rife about who will come out on top this year. France were victorious in 2018, and will no doubt be looking to replicate their success this time around.

Whilst Brazil are the current betting favorites to win the competition, France and England are jointly tied in second place. Admittedly, France did have a somewhat lackluster Euro campaign in 2020, but they undeniably have a team capable of bouncing back this World Cup.

France’s 2022 World Cup XI

It seems likely that France will play a 4-2-3-1 formation at the 2022 World Cup. A closer inspection of their squad reveals why there is so much expectation for the team to achieve greatness.

Goalkeeper

PSG’s Alphonse Areola (currently on loan at West Ham) will hope to take the starting place in goal, although Hugo Lloris will no doubt have something to say about that. Both men are extremely talented, with Lloris bringing bags of experience, whilst Areola has been on great form this past season.

Defenders

France may well have the strongest backline in the tournament, both in terms of talent and depth. Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard will surely start on the right, with Lucas Hernandez the seemingly logical pick for the left. In the two center back position, expect to see Raphael Varane starting, alongside either Dayot Upamecano, Presnel Kimpembe, or Samuel Umtiti playing alongside him.

Kurt Zouma, Theo Hernandez, Jules Kounde, Lucas Digne, and Clement Lenglet offer further depth for the team.

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Midfielders

Playing in the CDM/CM position will likely be Paul Pogba and Ngolo Kante. Say what you will about Pogba’s tenure with United, but the 29-year-old always shows up for his country. Kante is a stellar midfielder, whose work rate is second to none.

Ahead of them, in the attacking midfielder roles, could be any three of Kingsley Coman, Nabil Fekir, Moussa Dembele, Antonie Griezman, or Wissam Ben Yedder.

Strikers

France have the choice between two of the best strikers in the world right now. Kylian Mbappe or Karim Benzema. Both men are exceptional talents, Benzema filling the role of experienced veteran, whilst Mbappe is the rising star.

Both men will certainly feature over the course of the campaign, and Didier Deschamps may even change formation to fit the two elite strikers side by side.

Do you think France have what it takes to win the World Cup again?

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Mbappe scores FOUR in absolute demolition! | France 8-0 Kazakhstan | World Cup Qualifier Highlights nonadult
Could 2022 Be The Year For England To Finally Claim Their Second World Cup? https://soccerballworld.com/is-2022-the-year-for-england-world-cup/ Wed, 20 Apr 2022 14:05:41 +0000 https://soccerballworld.com/?p=2313 The 2022 World Cup is rapidly approaching and fans are already speculating as to which country will come out on top this time around.

Brazil have opened as betting favorites, although they are closely followed by England and France, all of who are capable of fielding squads filled with a plethora of talent and depth.

England have only won the World Cup once, capturing the trophy in 1966. However, if their performance in the recent 2020 Euro’s is anything to go by, this could well be the year it’s finally ‘coming home.’

Whilst the team ultimately slipped up in the Euro final, losing out to Italy on penalties, the consistent quality the team showed throughout the tournament indicates that they could well go on to achieve great things this year.

Euro 2020: Where is home? - England squad hailed as a 'celebration of  diversity and immigration' | UK News | Sky News

England 2022 World Cup XI – A Wealth Of UEFA Champions League Experience

England’s manager Gareth Southgate has a solid variety of options to pick from for the upcoming World Cup. The majority of his team have been playing at the highest level of the Premier League, with many also featuring in the UEFA Champions League.

Both Liverpool and Manchester City are currently competing in the semi-finals, with English players such as Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, and Phil Foden all featuring. If you are looking for the best odds for this year’s UEFA Champions League winner, then Rushbet is the site to use.

Goalkeeper

England’s goalkeeper options for the 2022 World Cup are slightly limited, with Everton’s Jordan Pickford likely the first choice for Southgate. Pickford is a talented keeper, but prone to bouts of inconsistency and rashness.

Burnley’s Nick Pope and Southampton’s Fraser Forster represent Southgate’s alternate options. Both are solid goalkeepers, though not quite as consistently impressive as Brazil’s backup keeper option of Ederson.

Defenders

England have played five at the back in the past, but it is currently unclear as to what strategy Southgate will employ come November. For the sake of this article we will presume that he plays the traditional four at the back, although that is of course subject to change.

Trent Alexander Arnold is the most obvious pick. The Liverpool right-back is one of the best in the world in his position, with pinpoint crosses that consistently see him rack up numerous assists. On the left, Manchester United’s Luke Shaw has been consistently solid when playing for his country. The 26 year old is currently injured and thought to be out for the rest of the season, although will likely be back in time for the World Cup.

John Stones should slot straight into one of the center-back roles, as his stellar form for Manchester City has been very impressive. It is up for debate who plays alongside him, with Harry Maguire’s recent form bringing his starting place into question. Tyrone Mings or Conor Coady could both have a look in, depending on how things play out in the coming months.

HOT OR NOT: John Stones has been absolutely colossal for England at Euro  2020 | Daily Mail Online

Midfield

England have a solid variety of players that can fit into the midfield three. Jordan Henderson has been in good form for Liverpool and has been consistently playing at an extremely high level, not too much the maturity and leadership he brings to the center of the field. Declan Rice is also very solid, and could fulfill a similar role to Henderson, should Southgate wish to mix things up.

Paired with Henderson, could be Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount. Both young aggressive midfielders with an eye for goal, paired together they could give the opposition nonstop trouble.

It is also worth noting that Conor Gallagher of Crystal Palace has been on an incredible run of form lately, and will allow Southgate even further room for experimentation.

Attack

Harry Kane will of course retain his position as the man at the front of England’s attacking line, despite not having quite a prolific goal-scoring season as he has had in the past.

As for the wings, Southgate can really take his pick. Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, and Jack Grealish are all excellent options that can cause all sorts of problems for opposing teams on the flanks.

Raheem Sterling shows why Gareth Southgate's faith has never wavered as he  inspires England's win over Germany | Football News | Sky Sports

How do you see England faring at the 2022 World Cup?

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Could Portugal Be The Dark Horse Of The 2022 World Cup? https://soccerballworld.com/portugal-the-dark-horse-of-the-2022-world-cup/ Thu, 14 Apr 2022 11:07:34 +0000 https://soccerballworld.com/?p=2289 As the 2022 World Cup draws closer, fans are beginning to speculate who might come out on top this time around.

Brazil are strong favorites this year, closely followed by England and France, who all have extremely deep and talent-rich teams.

However, in every World Cup there is always a dark horse to watch out for, and this year, it may well be Portugal. If you are looking for betting odds for the World Cup, then look no further than MrBet, where you can back Brazil, England, France, or even Portgual to come out on top this year.

Portugal’s 2022 World Cup XI

Portugal do have a very solid team that is being overlooked by may. A number of talented players litter their ranks, with the potential to upset the odds and bring home a trophy.

Portugal has the options of three high level goalkeepers, with Diogo Costa of Porto, Rui Patrício of Roma, and Anthony Lopes of Lyon all ready to take the number 1 spot for their country.

A slightly weaker backline will likely see Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo and Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro take on the full-back positions, whilst veteran defenders Pepe and Jose Fonte could hold the center. Alternatively, Diogo Dalot, Nuno Mendes, and Cédric Soares are all also available.

It is in midfield that the depth and talent of the team really begins to shine through. William Carvalho, Ruben Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Moutinho, and Bernardo Silva will all be vying for a place in the starting XI, which is the perfect problem to have for manager Fernando Santos.

Up front, once again, there is a surplus of talent. Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo will almost certainly start ahead of Andre Silva, whilst it stands to reason that Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and Atlético Madrid’s Joao Felix will take up position on the flanks. Rafael Leao of AC Milan and Gonçalo Guedes of Valencia are also solid options.

This team is full of attacking talent, and what they lack at the back, is more than made up for with goal-scoring firepower.

How do you see Portugal faring at the 2022 World Cup?

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Brazil Open As Betting Favorites To Win 2022 World Cup https://soccerballworld.com/brazil-open-as-betting-favorites-world-cup/ Tue, 05 Apr 2022 14:32:37 +0000 https://soccerballworld.com/?p=2284 Brazil, one of the countries most synonymous with the World Cup, is currently favored to come out on top when the iconic tournament takes place in Qatar later this year.

Brazil currently hold the record for most World Cup wins, having lifted the trophy five times already. They are closely followed by Germany and Italy, who have won the tournament four times apiece.

5.5 odds can currently be found for Brazil at GG.Bets, who also cover a range of Esports and Club Soccer betting lines. Close behind Brazil are both England and France, which have been priced at 6.5. Portugal may well be a dark horse for this year, and can be found at the excellent line of 13.0.

Brazil’s 2022 World Cup XI

The reasoning for Brazil’s favored status going into the 2022 World Cup is obvious as soon as one takes a closer look at their squad.

In the goalkeeping department, Brazil is spoiled for choice. Two of the Premier League’s best keepers call Brazil their homeland, with Liverpool’s Allison and Manchester City’s Ederson both vying for the first time spot.

Brazil’s defense may well be it’s weakest area, and yet it is still stronger than the majority of their World Cup rivals’ back four. Juventus full-backs Danilo and Sandro will likely take the flanks, whilst Thiago Silva and Marquinhos appear the logical choice to make up the heart of the backline. Dani Alves, Alex Telles, Gabriel, and Eder Millitao are all also available in reserve.

In midfield, Liverpool’s Fabinho seems to be the most logical choice due to his fine form in the prem as of late. Both Casemiro and Fred will be competing against each other to play alongside him, as will Bruno Guimaraes, Douglas Luiz, and Arthur Melo.

Look for the iconic Neymar to take on the CAM role, supported by Vinicius Junior and Raphinha on the wings. This will likely result in Lucas Paqueta, Philippe Coutinho, and Gabriel Martinelli all sitting on the bench, which truly boggles the mind.

Up front is another Liverpool vs. Man City clash, with both Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus competing to take the illustrious striker position. That is not even taking into consideration Everton’s Richarlison, who is yet another solid option.

Do you think Brazil has what it takes to win the World Cup this year?

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